README.md

CObject

Using C to implement reference-counted object model.

See header co.h

CObject Model

Object is referred by pointer only, reference counted.

Main API

MUST-PROVIDED:

• new: create a new object
• newRef: create a new reference to an object
• freeRef: free one reference

OPTIONAL:

• clone: clone an object
• copy: copy one object to another

When to call newRef

Only if you need to keep an object for a while, and if you called newRef (or new) once, then you must call freeRef once if you no longer need it.

Implementation Detial

Object must have a reference counter, the following API call change this counter:

• new: set to 1
• newRef: +1
• freeRef: -1
• clone: set to 1 (newed object, no change to cloned)

struct Model

struct CObject {
    struct CO {
        size_t ref;
    } CO;

    // other data fields
    ...
};